Chapter 9

Tillie

"Which color do you like more? Red or—fucking!—black?" Nicola holds her hands out in front of her face, blowing on the two colors of nail polish then messes it up by flicking her fingers as she ticks her mouth sideways with a click of her tongue.

"Hmmm?" I say absentmindedly, staring at the chaos of clothes spread out on the bedspread. "Oh, uh, black." I pick up a scrappy piece of red fabric that would leave nothing to the imagination.

That's a no for me.

I know I'm supposed to dance for a bunch of old men tomorrow night, but the last thing I want to do is get them horny. Fucking sick, dirty bastards. My stomach twists in knots, knowing Cruz is going to be there watching me, always watching, like I'm his prey.

"Yeah, black looks good on you. You should wear the black dress. It's tight enough to entice but classy enough to not be slutty," Nicola comments with a clap of her hands, rummaging through the pile of clothes until she pulls out a black dress from the bottom. "Yes! It's perfect."

She hands it over and I hold it up, turning towards the guest room's full-length mirror behind the door. It's slim fitting and has a velvet soft material that stops at the knees but it exposes the shoulders, showing off enough skin to make it sexy.

"I like it. It's too bad that human trafficking scum are the ones who're going to see me in this." I sigh and plop down on the bed next to Nicola with a groan, throwing my arm over my eyes.

"Imagine it's just you and the guys. Dance how you want to and then get the fuck out of there. I wish I could go with you, but my father…" she trails off, biting her lip as her eyes fills with guilt.

I sit up quickly, reaching out to her and squeezing when she places her palm in my hand.

"I'm glad you won't be there. You're my first friend and I don't want you in danger, around those monsters," I say softly and give her a reassuring smile as her brows furrow.

"Just don't let Nicky do anything stupid, okay? He really does care about you. I can tell." She squeezes my hand in return before releasing mine and flicks me on the nose, but I ignore it as a plan starts to form in my head.

"I think he does too, but it's hard to tell with him sometimes. Anyway, I need you here. Do you want to hear my plan to torture Logan?" I start to laugh as she sits up straight and squeals with glee, getting up in my face with excitement.

"Fuck, yes! Tell me everything and I'll help any way I can." She automatically agrees without knowing anything about my revenge, and I couldn't love her any more than I already do.

"I'd like to know the same thing, Mama," Dom mutters from behind me, scaring the shit out of us and causing Nicola and I to jump at the same time.

I turn around on the bed and see him leaning against the doorjamb, a wide smile spreading across his lips.

"Jesus! Bitch!" Nicola shouts, flipping Dom off and blushing once she lowers her hands.

Not wanting her to feel bad about something she can't control, I flip Dom off for good measure and literally laugh out loud as I see the glint of warmth in his eyes, like I could do no wrong.

"So… I gotta admit, torture and Logan in the same sentence gets me really excited. Ask for anything and it's yours." Dom chuckles as he's pushed from behind, stumbling into the room as Tey runs past him and dives onto the bed.

He takes me down with him, making me shriek as he starts to blow raspberries on my neck and cheeks.

"Stop! You guys are going to make me sick with the cuteness overload." Nicola gags and scoots off the bed to go stand by Evan's side as he walks into the room.

"Pumpkin, you know torture gets me hard, it's like you're trying to make me walk around with blue balls. Don't tease me," Tey whispers between my neck and shoulder. I can feel his lips parting as he smiles before he starts to pull away and he licks his fucking long, pierced tongue up my cheek.

"Should we, uh, give you some privacy?" Evan stutters from the doorway, looking awkward as fuck as he looks everywhere except at us.

"You know, I like you, friend. You don't look at my queen with lust in your eyes," Dom says, slapping Evan on the shoulder as he walks by to stand at the end of the bed, almost knocking Evan off his feet.

"Right? I was just thinking I'll let him live since my baby likes him as a friend. I don't have to worry about him trying to hit on Tillie. I won't have to hide a body for once. You know how hard it is digging a grave? It takes hours and I get hangry. I usually have to stop for Taco Bell after being covered in dirt," Tey exclaims, exasperated like it's the end of the world having to go out of his way to get Taco Bell.

"I'll gut you if you touch my man," Nicola says darkly, and she really sounds like Nicky in that moment. The scary threats must run in the family.

"Will you stop! No killing Evan," I almost shout, glaring at Tey. Even when my lips twitch as he smiles innocently at me, I hold firm.

"Fine," Tey relents with a sigh and scoots along the bed with me in his arms until he's propped against the headboard with me cuddling against his chest.

"Thanks, Tillie," Evan chokes out, eyeing Dom and Tey warily as Nicola pets his arm with affection.

"Take a seat, guys. They won't do anything to you," I trail off, making sure both of my guys are sitting on either side of me, just in case I need to hold one of them back.

I don't think they'd kill one of my best friends, but I'm not sure about biting. You can't take the villain out of a guy, you just have to go with the flow and get on the crazy train with them.

"So, I'm practically bouncing in my seat here. What's this torture plan?" Dom grins as I turn my head towards him and I roll my eyes because he looks so happy at the thought of Logan's demise.

"Why? Do you want to help, Tey? He's your friend." I hold Tey's stare as he doesn't blink and let out a sigh when he doesn't answer, so I turn to my other man. "Dom, I'm not even going to bother asking you." I place a finger over Dom's lips just as they part, ready for him to be a smart-ass, but, Dom being the sexy man he is… he sucks my fingers into his warm mouth and gently bites down on my digit.

"Fuck, that's hot," Tey says in a hungry voice, and when I look upside down at him on his chest, his eyes are staring into mine with pure heat. "Stop distracting me with your sexiness. I love Logan like a brother, but no one hurts my girl." Tey's tone comes out serious, his chest rumbling against my back as he talks.

"That's surprisingly sweet of you, Tey-Tey. I approve of this relationship," Nicola chimes in at the end of the bed, giggling with me as I snuggle deeper into Tey's strong chest.

Fucking comfortable.

I sink into this strange comfort that I'm experiencing, and I'm not going to lie, I love it, and I want more so badly that it gets me choked up. Finally having someone that loves me is a strange feeling, like I'm finally whole. It's mind and body whole, a peaceful warmth that just makes so much sense. It's like staring at the sunrise for the first time, so in awe and stunned that you can't look away. It's beautiful. A new beginning that puts your whole past to shame and makes you realize you're actually living for the first time. I'll die restfully knowing that I found love, not just once but five times. Not many people can say that.

"Hey! I can be sweet when I want to be. Right, pudding?" Tey whines. He's actually whining so much that I can't take him seriously.

He has his moments but in a sweet, murdery way. Wouldn't have him any other way though.

"Anywho, I'm going to distract Logan. Let him think everything is fine for the day until I kidnap him when the sun goes down." I smile at Dom as he clutches at his chest, right over his heart.

"You ever try to leave me, I'll chase you down and tie you to me forever." Dom grins such a predatory smile, white teeth flashing, that I actually believe him.

"What do you need?" Nicola asks eagerly, leaning forward, her eyes sparkling with delight.

She's really just as bloodthirsty as her brother. I'm here for it.

"Duct tape, blindfold, somewhere remote that's soundproof. I should be able to find the rest of what I need on hand. Nicola, I need you to do something extra for me that you might enjoy, it involves Paris. Oh! Evan, do you have something I can change my voice with? Star Wars maybe?" I smile wildly as Evan chokes and coughs while Nicola laughs and pounds on his back until he can breathe again.

"Fuck yeah! Count me in. Time to mess up that bitch's face." Nicola rubs her hands together in glee and bounces on her toes.

"I have just the thing. When do you need this all by?" Evan asks in a raspy voice, his eyes watering.

"Not tomorrow but the next day." I think about it but I'm startled as Tey picks me up suddenly by the waist and tosses me onto the bed next to Dom once he's standing.

I land with a thump, giggling, and Dom pushes my hair out of my face as he nuzzles my neck. I watch Tey quickly grab Evan and Nicola by their arms, pulling them off the bed and towards the bedroom door with his arms thrown over each of their shoulders.

"It's been fun but the grown-ups need some privacy. Get those things together and I'll text you with a location. Good chat. Byeeee." Tey ushers them out and slams the door in their stunned faces, their mouths gaping wide.

"I guess that's one way to get guests to leave," Dom drawls out against the spot between my neck and shoulder, nipping at the sensitive skin there.

"I needed them out of here before I came in my pants. You can't talk about kidnapping like that, sweetcheeks, without getting me fucking hard. Just look at what you did to me," Tey growls, palming the hard, big bulge in the front of his black jeans.

"Poor baby. Come here." I open my arms wide for him and he leaps onto the bed without hesitating, crawling towards me on hands and knees with a sexy smirk that gets my blood pumping.

"Careful. Our girl took a pounding earlier. How's your ass feeling, Mama? Sore?" Dom rumbles from behind me. I can hear the pleased, cocky tone in his voice as he squeezes me in his arms.

"You had anal without me?" Tey gasps so hard that I'm surprised he doesn't faint as he shoves his shoulders between my legs and settles his head on my stomach.

"It was everything, Tey. This is going to sound silly or cheesy, but I feel healed." I sigh, relaxing back into Dom's arms, and start running my hands through Tey's bright blond hair as he lifts my shirt to rub his scruff against my stomach.

"It's not silly, Mama. We all hold onto trauma differently and heal in our own ways. You need me to fuck you until you're healed, I'm here. You need ice cream and a sappy movie to cry, I'm here," Dom says in a serious tone into my ear, making my breath hitch.

"Fuck, man. You should write poems. That even made me tear up. What he said. You want to hold my unicorn?" Tey mutters against the soft skin of my stomach and shuffles around until he pulls his stuffed unicorn out of his front pocket.

These men. They're killing me. I don't think my heart can take it.

"I love you guys," I manage to choke out and gently grab the stuffed animal, putting it between my shoulder and neck so it's cuddled up next to me.

"Love you, Tillie." Tey sighs heavily, sinking further into the bed like we're in our own little bubble.

"Love you," Dom rasps in Spanish, his voice low and sexy at the same time.

We lay there for a little bit in silence, the sound of our relaxed breathing fills the room. I play with Tey's hair and start to gently braid it so he doesn't notice. Dom strokes my arm up and down so slowly that I think he's drifting to sleep. I don't blame him, I'm tired as hell but my mind is still racing.

"Is it okay if I admit I'm scared shitless about tomorrow?" I break the silence, biting my lip hard so I can keep my breathing from going out of control.

"If you weren't scared, I would think there's something wrong with you. We all have our fears. I think you're fucking brave for facing yours," Tey mumbles sleepily into my stomach.

"You guys will be there the whole time? I don't think I can do this alone…" I admit, feeling my stomach drop to my ass at the thought of them not being there to have my back.

"Every step of the way, Mama. Don't worry, we aren't going anywhere," Dom promises in a hard voice, his accent thicker than usual.

I find comfort in that spoken promise, already knowing Dom won't break his word, and my gut tells me the rest of the guys won't leave me either. That reminds me about something.

"Where did everyone go?" I ask curiously, getting to the top part of Tey's hair and braiding it in even rows.

"Dalton went to scope out possible areas of escape near the warehouse with some of the Hell's Devils keeping him company just in case things go south. Nicky and Logan are heading to the precinct to see what they can find on Franco's computer there." Tey drops that bomb on me like it's no big deal and grunts as I suddenly sit up, shoving him off me.

"The hell?! Why didn't anyone tell me? They didn't say anything!" I panic, getting tangled up in the sheets as I try to scramble off the bed.

"Calm down, Mama. They know what they're doing. This isn't their first rodeo." Dom sits up on the edge of the bed and wraps me in his arms from behind, dragging me between his spread legs.

"I fucking know that, but I don't like it. I can help. I'm here and they're out there putting their lives on the line!" I realize I'm shouting and panting by the time I'm done ranting in Dom's face.

"You need to put your trust in us. We know what we're doing, and that's protecting you. At some point, one of us will be in danger, but we'll never be alone." Tey paces back and forth across Dom's guest room deep in thought.

He's about to turn around to pace back towards the door but whips around with his jaw dropping as he stares at himself in the full-length mirror in the corner of the room by the windows.

"Tillie, my dearest love, what did you do to my hair?" He chokes out a laugh, trying to run his hands through his hair but his fingers get stuck in the braided strands.

"I got bored and can't stop thinking about everything that's been happening. It's almost too much sometimes," I grumble, blushing as they stare at me, and I reach over to grab the unicorn from the sheets to fiddle with it in my hands.

"Feel free to do anything to me to get your mind off things." Tey cockily smirks, crossing his arms over his impressive chest, and clearly forgetting about the mess I made of his hair.

"Smooth, brother," Dom says with a grunt and doesn't notice when Tey turns his head towards him with clear shock on his face.

"Aren't I, bro?" Tey comes bouncing over to us by the bed and lays a wet, smacking kiss on Dom's cheek before backing away quickly, out of hitting distance.

Moments like this give me hope that everything's going to be okay. It's a little glimpse into what my future could be.

I'll fight for it.